Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-04-14

DOVER, April, 18th, lSs7.-Tbe oiti.
zsns' succeeded to-day after ahard 6ght
In having their bill passed. The bill
will pass the Senate. A postponement
Was secured In the morning on the plea
THAT the Oouucilmen wanted to be
hesrd. The request was granted and
the bill was made the special order for
the afternoon. At2 O'Clock the Coun-
cllmen and their friends appeared and
set forth their case with consid srable
force Of argument calmly and dispaa-
Fsionately.
Mr.. Newell acted o. spokesman and
Mr.. Smalley WAS called to tho chair.
He introduced william II. Quinn %
the first speaker. He said the bill had
tbeeu 40 fully discussed ON both sides by
exhaustive argument pro and con. Those
who are best acquainted With me know
my position upon commissions. The
people should elect the ofacers and the
kpower 1t oil times should remain In tho
hsnds Of the people.
make any mistake when they rise In
their might to express their will. / was
elected TO Council in 1855. and I had
the proud honor to be one OF the two
Democrats In inst body st that time. I
WAS elected the drst Democrat In that
ward for thirteen years. At that time
there were e20 0e0 spent en- the streets.
|Since then the limits of the city have
been extended one. third. and the popu.
lation has been increased nearly
one.hAlk l sm surprised at some
OF the gentlemen who have been
abusing this Council. we'll re.
member when the pay-rolls Of tho
city fWtlmington were ha ked about
the streets and sold 1t 10 per cent. dis.
count. That thing has never occurred
under . Democratic administration.
One time 30; 600 awarded TO the Harlan
and Hollfngsworth Com pany were kept
three months to be used In paying the
running expenses of the city. The
money that has been srent by the city
shows for Itself In every part OF the
city.
Ithas been used in numerous public
improvements. The Water Depart.
N ent hes been cited ~ great saving
to the people, and that It has been put
pay % more tax than formerly, and
this for the privilege Of keeping store.
II these extra charges continue ell over
the city 1t would not take long for the
department to be on suoh basis. Ifit|
ID necessary TO have this oom mission
why do not these gentlemen allow the
selection to bo left with the people
Whoever appoints these officers will be
under some influence. These gentle.
men do not want to submit 1t. Why
there 10 something wrong In II; It has
been so shown; one Of these gentlemen
declared 'Let us have this bill and we
will elect the next Mayor" A large
number OF heavy tax payers are aaainst |
this bill. Philip Plunkett, one OF the |
largest tar. payers In the city of VIII
mington, said to me he was opposed to
1t.
The speaker closed his excellent ad- |
drefs by some favorable comments upon |
tbe primary election law.
City Solicitor Turner followed. The /
gentlemen who fepresent cd the citizens |
said that they did not make any attack |
upon those who represented the per-
sonnel OF the city government. The citi.
zens' committee have been silent upon
this and allowed you to infer what you
chose. Am called upon to represent
the people OF Wilmington. The ques-
tisn Of municipal government 10 one
that 10 interesting the people every.
where and 10 one Of the vital problems /
OF the country. Various sche mes and
various methods have been devised, and
numerous experiments are being tried. !
The City Council object to this bill fcr1
the reflection II casts upon them. I'll
objects to IL because Il is contrary to the
principle OF self government. In this
Democratic St~te local self governme en-
has been cheris shed.
This bill does not give that right. 1t
sakes the selection Of the officers out OF
'he hands Of the peop,e. This bill gives
mis- com mission power to nnllify every
ordinance of the city In relation to the
treets. This same power Is given to
ne Water Commission and to the
ooard OF Education, and thus you
'reate four legislative bodies In the city
y Wllmington-three others beside the 4
jity Council. What is the result? You IL
livide the responsibility. Now the high
Ak rate is complained Of. The bonded
'sos Is complained OF. The debt in
ocnd plumbers ie 81, 500, GOO. To pay
his 1t requires SOS, 5000; SiOO. 900 for '
chools, $67, 100 for salaries, $40, 900 for
ther loans. $40, 600 to redeem old loan.
sow, with this $50, 900 asked, this will
nake Si32 600 fled charges. This will
aise the tax rate. and where will the
a1payer 20 to seek redress? We want Q
reduction, not an increase. We do 7
ot want 10 increase tie officers, but
want to consolidate them.
ifere are In Wilmington about two u
undred miles of streets, twenty of n
'hlch are paved. For this S37 900 are o
ppropriated. Then upon an extension II
the city limits extra expense is in
Owed by the people wanting sire cts p
pened and graded. Whether these q
treets are In an impRssable condition 1 q
save u to you. Council has com itteo b
troIs OF judgment, which is very "
a'urai: Front street, one OF the stI lee, y it
'mpiained OF, Is explained. The grade u
as changed late in the fall and the r.
rect was left In q bad condition. 10
,nother reason for this 10 that the u
~ .ons ana Union Street Railway has ol
neu the City Council, and ever since d
leir charter vas granted havs acted a.
they owned the street. Their road isl
oove grade and unpAved. The streets
ave Deen paved by men VITO have the q
'pntAtion OF Being ~ good at their to
1slness as any In the State, and men pl
no Will very likely do the work under vi
waye done 1t. ar
NO memoers claim that they have m'
Do oeen unduly negligent. They saw III
t.S n~Ve uech faithful. II you pass Ia
lis measure, IL seems 10 ma and mem. Du
VS. OF Cenncil that al the departments VA
oaid be put under tom missions. Then
efe would be NO uss for Council az. Or
pc 70 do incidental work. They wan, bT'
put these things under the charge cf po
con mission. Are not the paopie the ia
W judges! They claits they cauno, ro'
! iair expression of OPINION. Waoso sci
aIe 10 this? 1t is not the fault OF the tGel
w council. You have taken a hail
" step In ths direction towards good ,
y, vernment tne fon have made It possible =,
A. ,4oo votes will rot be takep ont Of 20
oo1 when there are not zNO pollad aG'